NFL Draft 2011: 5 Unanswered Questions Regarding the Chicago Bears

The 2011 NFL Draft is now history. Teams have upgraded on positions, picked potential superstars and drafted what some predict will be busts.

But like any other draft, there are always unanswered questions that both fans, players and maybe even some coaches want answered.

For the Chicago Bears, it appeared that Jerry Angelo got off on the right foot when he picked a much-needed offensive lineman with the team's first pick. They were lucky enough to have a top-five prospect at the position fall to them at number 29, so there was no hesitation on Angelo's part.

The Bears then selected defensive tackle Stephen Paea, who they were impressed with but who still has injury issues. Providing a replacement for Tommie Harris was vital, however.

Next they drafted California's safety Chris Conte, which raised some eyebrows since the Bears are solid at safety but need help at the cornerback position.

From that point on, the Bears' picks got gradually worse and made many people wonder why Angelo didn't continue to make smart moves and decisions as he did in earlier rounds?

Why Wasn't a Wide Receiver Taken?

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After a lineman, the most crucial position the Bears needed to fill is that of a No. 1 receiver.

Obviously the o-line and d-line are in need of more bolstering, but the Bears had three other opportunities to bring in a wideout. While this draft didn't feature the best stock of receivers, the Bears have a greater need for a taller receiver than another safety.

There were still players on the board going into round three like Tandon Doss, Edmond Gates and Denarius Moore. These might not be the tall receivers that Chicago wanted (6'2" or taller), but any one of them would have added a bit of height and depth to the Bears' receiving corps.

Drafting one of the aforementioned receivers would also reduce the amount of money the Bears would spend on a wideout in free agency. Instead of looking for an All-Star, they could of gone for a middle-of-the-pack guy that would contribute to a well-rounded group.

What the Bears shouldn't do is waste their money on a receiver who's way past his prime and sign him for one or two seasons (Terrell Owens or Randy Moss).

Either way, you still wonder why Angelo didn't take a receiver in the later rounds.

Why Was a Safety Taken but Not a Cornerback?

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Chicago has Chris Harris and Major Wright at the two starting safety spots next season. This is providing that they don't resign Danieal Manning. In addition, Josh Bullocks could also play safety for the Bears.

While deepening the safety spot could help the Bears, since Wright was injured for almost all of last year, the cornerback spot should have been addressed.

Even though the Bears have depth at that position, there's really no standout corner on the team. Charles Tillman is easily the best guy at the position. Ever since Nathan Vasher left the Bears, Chicago hasn't found an equally talented player to fill in.

Sure, the Bears could sign Nnamdi Asomugha, but would he really want to sign with Chicago and would the Bears have to sacrifice a lot to land him?

Will Anthony Adams Be Resigned?

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Chicago addressed another important order of business with their second-round pick, which they got by trading up with the Washington Redskins to grab Stephen Paea.

It's not that Paea is a bad pick, his only downfall is that he has been having some shoulder problems and may be injured before the regular season, depending on how hard he goes in the preseason to secure a starting spot.

Let's paint a picture. Paea gets the starting spot at DT, with Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije at defensive ends. If Adams isn't resigned and the Bears don't bring in another tackle through free agency, both tackles will have little, if any, starting experience.

Sure Marcus Harrison played in all 16 games in 2008 and 2009, but he only started in nine games back in '09.

The other defensive tackle that remains is Matt Toeaina. He had 10 starts last season because of Tommie Harris getting sent to the sideline. He would probably be the other starting defensive tackle if Adams doesn't come back.

Although he's undersized, Henry Melton might even make a couple of appearances in the a-gap in a starting role for Chicago next year .

Well I could go on and on about the potential starters for next season at tackle, but the bottom line is that with Anthony Adams brings leadership and experience. No other defensive tackle has played more than four years in the NFL.

That being said, the players in the middle next season could be very prone to mistakes and may be easy to run on if Adams isn't brought back OR they don't sign another defensive tackle.

Where Will Gabe Carimi Line Up Next Year?

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Chicago is in need of a left tackle. It's arguably the most important position on the offensive line or even on the entire offense, some would say. The Bears did the right thing by drafting Gabe Carimi.

During his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, all 49 of Carimi's starts were at left tackle. Will he continue to play left tackle for the Bears, however?

Some say he may be shifted over to right tackle and J'Marcus Webb will move back home to the left tackle position.

He might even play guard, especially if Chicago is having trouble at that spot.

Nevertheless, Carimi is a beast and should/will help the Bears out immediately.

Still, their are questions as to which position he will play in the newly improved Chicago Bears offensive line.